Medication cartridge for an electronic pen-type injector, or the like, and method of making the same

ABSTRACT

A cartridge for containing a fluid and for use with an electronic delivery device, includes a cartridge housing for holding the fluid, and information providing source. The information providing source is coupled to the cartridge housing to operatively couple with the electronic delivery device to provide predetermined information regarding the cartridge to the electronic delivery device. For example, the information providing source may be a set of wires and contacts, or contact bands, that provide the predetermined information to electronic delivery device by producing a binary code. Alternatively, the information providing source is a bar code that provides the predetermined information to electronic delivery device by reading of the bar code. The cartridge may be used in a system that includes an electronic delivery device, such as an electronic pen-type injector.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to medication cartridges and, in particularembodiments, to a medication cartridge for an electronic pen-typeinjector, or the like, that has improved safety and informationproviding characteristics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, medication cartridges have been used with pen-typeinjectors and are prevalently used worldwide on reusable or multi-dosedevices for invasive delivery of medication. However, in typicalpen-type injectors, a cartridge is simply inserted into a pen-typeinjector and used to provide an injection. The pen-type injector doesnot have any method of determining if the medication cartridge isproperly inserted or what type of medication is contained in themedication cartridge. The user must manually check the cartridge forproper insertion and must be sure that the medication is the correctone. This is important, since improper insertion can result in damage tothe pen-type injector or in the administration of an incorrect dosage ofmedication, which could result in injury or death. Also, the user mustknow what type of medication is being used, since there are oftendifferent dosing requirements for different concentrations of the samemedication.

To overcome, the proper insertion of the medication cartridge in thepen-type injection, Novo Nordisk developed a plastic cap that mated withmatching teeth on the pen-type injector. If the teeth on the plastic capwere not properly lined up and seated in the pen-type injector, thepen-type injector could not be assembled and used. However, this designsuffered from several drawbacks, for example, the user could simplyforce the cartridge into the pen-type injector and force the pen-typeinjector together by deforming the plastic cap. In addition, the plasticcap could be easily removed.

To overcome the drawbacks concerning what type of medication wascontained in the medication cartridge, information was printed on theexterior of the medication cartridge and was viewable through a clearportion on the pen-type injector. However, the user must still view theprinting on the cartridge and understand the information presented bythe printing.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

It is an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide animproved medication cartridge, which obviates for practical purposes,the above-mentioned limitations.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a cartridge for containinga fluid and for use with an electronic delivery device, includes acartridge housing for holding the fluid, and information providingmeans. The information providing means is coupled to the cartridgehousing to operatively couple with the electronic delivery device toprovide predetermined information regarding the cartridge to theelectronic delivery device.

In particular embodiments, the information providing means is a set ofwires and contacts that provide the predetermined information toelectronic delivery device by producing a binary code. In otherembodiments, the information providing means is a set of wires andcontact bands that provide the predetermined information to electronicdelivery device by producing a binary code. In still other embodiments,the information providing means is a bar code that provides thepredetermined information to electronic delivery device by reading ofthe bar code. In further embodiments, the information providing means isdisposed on an exterior surface of the cartridge housing.

In preferred embodiments, the predetermined information provided by theinformation providing means includes information selected from the groupof information including, but not limited to, correct insertion, correctorientation, type of fluid contained in the cartridge housing,expiration date of the fluid in the cartridge housing, and maximumdosage of the fluid in the cartridge housing. Also, preferably, theelectronic delivery device is an electronic pen-type injector, thecartridge is a medication cartridge, and the fluid is a medication.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, variousfeatures of embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of embodiments of the invention will be made withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designatecorresponding parts in the several figures.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a medication cartridge in accordance with afirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic of the medication cartridge shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a medication cartridge in accordance with asecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic of the medication cartridge shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a medication cartridge in accordance with athird embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of a medication cartridge inaccordance with an embodiment held in an electronic delivery device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention isembodied in a medication cartridge. In preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, the medication cartridge is used for an injectionwith an electronic pen-type injector and then discarded. Typicalelectronic pen-type injectors are shown and described in U.S. Pat. No.5,593,390, issued Jan. 14, 1997 to Castellano et al., which is hereinincorporated by reference. However, it will be recognized that furtherembodiments of the present invention may be used with other types ofelectronic invasive delivery or transfer devices, such as IV dripsystems, infusion pumps or the like, for delivering substances into thebody (see FIG. 6, which shows an electronic delivery device 1 coupled toa cartridge housing 3 including an information providing source 5 thatis operatively coupled to the electronic delivery device 1 to providepredetermined information to the electronic delivery device 1). In stillfurther embodiments, the medication cartridges may be used to deliverother medical substances such as vitamins, hormones, vaccines,antibiotics or other medications, or may deliver other liquidsubstances, such as dyes, tracers or the like.

Embodiments of this present invention are directed to an improvedmedication cartridge for use with the electronic pen-type injectorsand/or combination devices that include a characteristic monitor. Themedication cartridges include some circuitry or indicia applied to theexterior of the medication cartridge that will allow the electronicpen-type injectors to determine characteristics about the medicationcartridge and the medication (or liquids) contained in the medicationcartridge. Some embodiments provide a minimum of information and wouldbe relatively inexpensive to implement, while others may utilize complexcircuitry to provide very detailed information about the medicationcartridge. In preferred embodiments, the improved medication cartridgeuses existing glass or plastic medication cartridge specifications anddimensions to minimize FDA certification requirements. However, inalternative embodiments, the improved medication cartridges may be madeout of other materials, such as composites, metals, ceramics or thelike, and may be made to other dimensions and specifications to suitspecific needs of the users and the electronic pen-type injectors.

A medication cartridge 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of thepresent invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cartridge 10 includes aplurality of contacts 12 that mate with corresponding contacts on theelectronic pen-type injector (not shown). The contacts 12 are connectedto either a ground contact 14 or a positive contact 16 throughcorresponding wires 18 and 20. The electronic pen-type injector suppliesthe ground and positive values to the corresponding contacts 14 and 16.The electronic pen-type injector then reads the resulting value from thecontacts 12, which produce information or a binary input that can beindicative of medication type (e.g., types of insulin), expiration date,the amount of medication contained in the cartridge, the maker of themedication, proper insertion of the medication cartridge 10, a maximumdosage or the like. This information can then be displayed on theelectronic pen-type injector or used to control the electronic pen-typeinjector to improve performance (e.g., warn of exceeding maximum dosageor of improper insertion into the electronic pen-type injector). Theembodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 uses spot contacts 12, 14 and 16 with thewires 18 and 20 insulated or covered with opaque plastic. Thisembodiment requires angular alignment of the medication cartridge 10 tothe proper angular orientation in the electronic pen-type injector toread the information from the medication cartridge 10. The contacts 12,14 and 16, and wires 18 and 20, may be formed from metal tape, vapordeposition or printed circuit board techniques. If tight tolerances canbe maintained, the contacts may only take up a small portion of thesurface area of the medication cartridge 10.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a medication cartridge 110 in accordance with asecond embodiment of the present invention. The medication cartridge 110uses contact bands 112, 114 and 116, instead of the spot contacts 12, 14and 16, that perform in a manner similar to the contacts 12, 14 and 16described above. The use of contact bands 112, 114 and 116 avoids thenecessity of orientating the angle of the medication cartridge 110 toinsure that the electronic pen-type injector can obtain the informationfrom the medication cartridge 110. The bands 112, 114 and 116 areconnected together by the use of corresponding wire leads 118 and 120that are in electrical contact with specific bands to generateinformation that is used by the electronic pen-type injector.

The above two embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4 may be applied to an end ofthe medication cartridges as an adhesive label that contains therequired contacts and wires. This would simplify manufacturing andreduce costs. These embodiments are also probably the least expensive toimplement from an electronic pen-type injector manufacturing standpointand only moderately add to the cost for production of the medicationcartridges, since the contacts have to be applied to the cartridgeseither during production or afterward by application of an adhesivelabel.

FIG. 5 illustrates a medication cartridge 210 in accordance with a thirdembodiment of the present invention. This medication cartridge 210 usesa bar code 212 formed from thin lines 214 and thick lines 216 that areread by a small optical scanner (not shown) in the electronic pen-typeinjector to obtain the information. The bar code 212 can be either anarrow width that requires angular orientation of the medicationcartridge 210 or the bar code 212 lines can completely encircle themedication cartridge 210. The bar code 212 may be applied using the sametechniques currently used to apply labeling to the cartridges or the barcode 212 may be applied by a label. This embodiment is probably theleast expensive from a medication cartridge manufacturing standpoint,since labels are already printed onto the medication cartridges.However, this would increase the cost of the electronic pen-typeinjector, since a small optical scanner would now be required. In afurther embodiment, the cartridge has a magnetic strip or code appliedto the cartridge, which is then read by a magnetic scanner in theelectronic pen-type injector.

Although the illustrated embodiments describe the wires and bar codesbeing disposed on the exterior of the medication cartridge, it may bepossible to place some or all of the elements on the interior of themedication cartridge or within the material forming the medicationcartridge. This would improve the durability of the various embodiments;however, this would increase costs, since the medication cartridges andelectronic pen-type injectors would likely require FDA re-certification.

Although not illustrated, a further embodiment would employ a microchipthat is adhesively applied to the medication cartridge, and which isthen coupled to the electronic pen-type injector when the medicationcartridge is inserted in the electronic pen-type injector. This wouldpermit the medication cartridge to provide very detailed information,for example including, but not limited to, patient dosing instructions.

In another alternative, a box containing the cartridges would includeeither a contact strip, bar code, or microchip insert that is insertedinto a receptor on an electronic pen-type injector (not shown) so thatthe contact strip or the like is inserted independently to indicate theinformation for the entire box of cartridges. Although this would reducecosts and minimize any impact on manufacturing of the cartridges, itlooses some of the advantages of independent labeling, since a user mayforget to change the insert when using cartridges from different boxes.

Advantages to these embodiments are improved control of dosing and moreinformation for the electronic pen-type injector to better reportpatient progress.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of thepresent invention, it will be understood that many modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claimsare intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the truescope and spirit of the present invention.

The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered inall respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of theinvention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than theforegoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning andrange of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cartridge for containing a fluid and for use with an electronic delivery device, the cartridge comprising:a cartridge housing for holding the fluid; and an information providing source coupled to the cartridge housing to operatively couple with the electronic delivery device for providing predetermined information, independent of an administered dosage, regarding the cartridge to the electronic delivery device, wherein the information providing source includes at least one ring of material that completely encircles the cartridge housing.
 2. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the information providing source is a set of wires and the at least one ring of material are contact bands that provide the predetermined information to electronic delivery device by producing a binary code.
 3. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ring of material of the information providing source is a bar code that provides the predetermined information to electronic delivery device by reading of the bar code.
 4. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the information providing source is disposed entirely on an exterior surface of the cartridge housing.
 5. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined information from the information providing source includes information selected from the group consisting essentially of correct insertion, correct orientation, type of fluid contained in the cartridge housing, expiration date of the fluid in the cartridge housing, and maximum dosage of the fluid in the cartridge housing.
 6. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the electronic delivery device is an electronic pen-type injector, wherein the cartridge is a medication cartridge, and wherein the fluid is a medication.
 7. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the electronic delivery device is an infusion pump, wherein the cartridge is a medication cartridge, and wherein the fluid is a medication.
 8. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ring of material of the information providing source is two or more rings of material.
 9. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ring of material of the information providing source permits operative coupling to the electronic delivery device independent of angular orientation.
 10. A system utilizing a cartridge for containing a fluid, the system comprising:an electronic delivery device; a cartridge housing for holding the fluid configured to be coupled to the electronic and to provide predetermined information to the electronic delivery device; and an information providing source coupled to the cartridge housing to operatively couple with the electronic delivery device for providing the predetermined information, independent of an administered dosage, regarding the cartridge to the electronic delivery device, wherein the information providing source includes at least one ring of material that completely encircles the cartridge housing.
 11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the information providing source is a set of wires and the at least one ring of material are contact bands, disposed on an exterior surface of the cartridge housing, that provide the predetermined information to the electronic delivery device by producing a binary code.
 12. A system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one ring of material of the information providing source is a bar code, disposed on an exterior surface of the cartridge housing, that provides the predetermined information to electronic delivery device by reading of the bar code.
 13. A system according to claim 10, wherein the information providing source is disposed entirely on an exterior surface of the cartridge housing.
 14. A system according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined information from the information providing source includes information selected from the group consisting essentially of correct insertion, correct orientation, type of fluid contained in the cartridge housing, expiration date of the fluid in the cartridge housing, and maximum dosage of the fluid in the cartridge housing.
 15. A system according to claim 10, wherein the electronic delivery device is an electronic pen-type injector, wherein the cartridge is a medication cartridge, and wherein the fluid is a medication.
 16. A system according to claim 10, wherein the electronic delivery device is an infusion pump, wherein the cartridge is a medication cartridge, and wherein the fluid is a medication.
 17. A system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one ring of material of the information providing source is two or more rings of material.
 18. A system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one ring of material of the information providing source permits operative coupling to the electronic delivery device independent of angular orientation. 